This fall I have a chance to live and study in Southern Italy and to its 12th century art and architecture.
Over three months I will build skills vital for the study of art history like effectively recording first hand observations for later use, and critiquing and developing my ideas and methods.
This is an opportunity to expand my knowledge of Siculo-Norman art , a unique product of the cultures that interlaced within Norman Sicily, by directly observing and interacting with it. Research and first-hand access will help me develop a deeper understanding of both the material and concepts within their own context.
For the first two weeks, I will to travel throughout Italy and visit places that would otherwise be difficult to access during the course of normal studies.
Each city on the route has key monuments and works. Some examples include, the palace of the Norman rulers, Palazzo Normanni, its chapel, the Capella Palatina, and the Museum of Islamic Art at La Ziza. This two week trip means that that later on I can pursue a more focused approach in Salerno, where I will live for the following months.
While in Salerno I get to engage in a detailed study of the Cathedral while auditing classes at the University of Salerno.
During free time I can visit sites closer to home and spend weekends searching out any other sites that are important to my studies.
I am very excited about this opportunity and hope you all can share it with me!
We're going to Salerno & 12th Century Sites of Norman Sicily!
I will arrive in Florence and for two weeks travel south to Sicily.
While in Naples, I will study the works painted by Caravaggio, one of the fathers of the Baroque, during his exile to Naples from 1606 to 1610 such as David with the Head of Goliath and the Seven Works of Mercy.
Throughout my trip I will study the Monastery of Monte Cassino, it's library and manuscript production during the 11th and 12th centuries.
In Salerno, where I will live for the remainder of the trip, I will be researching the Cathedral of Salerno. Established in the early 11th century, it is filled with interesting and unique carvings, sculptures, architectural elements and mosaics from the early 11th century.
As it gets closer to the trip and plans finalize I will post a full tour featuring each destination and monument I will visit, made in google maps. That way you can see exactly where I am! :)
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